How to pronounce incarceration
Say it like in-kar-suh-RAY-shun. Incarceration has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce incarceration. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- kar
- suh
- RAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Incarceration pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- karGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of incarceration
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: in-kah-suh-RAY-shun.
What does incarceration mean?
- The act of confining, or the state of being confined; imprisonment.
- A strangulation, as in a hernia.
- A constriction of the hernial sac, rendering it irreducible, but not great enough to cause strangulation.
Where does incarceration come from?
Borrowed from Medieval Latin incarcerātiō, equivalent to incarcerate + -ion.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with incarceration
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of incarceration.
Questions about saying incarceration
How do you pronounce incarceration?
Say in-kar-suh-RAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˌkɑrsəˈreɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌɪnˌkɑːsəˈreɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in incarceration?
Incarceration has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (RAY). Broken into parts: in · kar · suh · RAY · shun.
Is incarceration pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌɪnˌkɑːsəˈreɪʃən/ (in-kah-suh-RAY-shun).